2017 marks the 70th year of business for Robinson Industries. 70 years of servicing our customers to our very best ability. 70 years of laughter. 70 years of faith. 70 years of family memories. 70 years of valuing our employees. 70 years of learning and improving capabilities. 70 years of staying ahead of our competition.
In 1947, Fred and Ardis Robinson started Robinson Industries, along with their three children, Ron, Inez and Bin. Today, the company remains 100% privately owned by the Robinson family. Inez Kaleto serves as the current chairman and CEO while Bin Robinson serves as the President and COO.
Ron Robinson was the president and CEO after Fred Robinson died 1975 at the age of 61. Ron expanded the business by buying new machinery for increased capacity and was also an expert at obtaining new customers and keeping old ones. Throughout his years he was involved in quoting, scheduling, purchasing, sales and human resources. Ron passed away in 1995. Ron’s spouse, Treva Robinson and Jerry Kaleto, Inez’s husband, are still very much involved with day-to-day operations.
Robinson Industries began thermoforming refrigerator door slabs in the 1950s — and along the way started working with canoes, coolers and ice buckets. At the request of automotive manufacturers, we began making thermoformed reusable plastic pallets for the auto industry in the 1960s. Evolving customer demands began making wooden pallets obsolete, helping plastic pallets gain in popularity. Learn more about the history of Robinson Industries here.
Over the years, business has changed dramatically: it’s required flexibility and responsiveness to a changing market. Previous constraints from the recession have improved since making capital improvements to increase the quality and output of our machines. Our relationships with the bank, union and our suppliers is very strong and positive. A structural foam division was added in addition to thermoforming in the early 1970s, which created and established products as the industry standard. This hard work and adaptation has paid off. Last year, record sales were achieved and we currently employ nearly 200 people.
Thank you to all of those who have been part of this amazing journey. We look forward to serving our customers through providing solutions to all of their packaging needs. Here’s to 70 more years!